11 Hikers Who Walked the Appalachian Trail After 60, Including a Record at 91

Dale Sanders, known on the trail as Grey Beard, set out at 91 to win back his record as the oldest person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail, and he had 12 months to finish for it to count. He started in West Virginia and finished on August 31, 2026, atop Maine’s highest peak.

“Dale Sanders, known as Grey Beard, is setting out to reclaim his record as the oldest person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. He has 12 months to complete the roughly 2,190-mile trail for it to count as a thru-hike record.”

Betty Kellenberger, a retired school teacher from Michigan, became the oldest woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail at 80: about 2,200 miles across 14 states. According to PBS NewsHour, only about one of every four hikers who set out to complete the trail reaches that goal.

“At 80 years old, she recently became the oldest woman to ever hike the entire Appalachian Trail.”

“Cahoda 82 years old, started north today”

Was 44 pounds. 2 trek pole tents and two sets of trekking poles. She left one tent and a set of really nice poles in the hiker box at the registration. She started with 34 pounds yesterday. Small lady. She’s got good gear.

Now she wants to be a real thruhiker and go all the way. She did the first hike at like age 79! No excuse for the rest of to not try.

“My Dad and His Trail buddies made it to the summit today. NOBO 2/24-9/6”

Left to right: Halo, Q, and RG

My Dad (RG) started the trail and turned 60 on the trail this May. I’m proud of him, I can remember hundreds of conversations on day hikes and camping trips. I remember the phone call a year ago that he told me he was finally going to do it. I know he is ready to home now, and get back to a few projects.

He waited well into his retirement.

He was truly in his element. Hiking and being outdoors in general have always been his greatest passion.

My dad has been section hiking the AT. He’s getting older (76) and is close to being done. I decided to hike a hard section with him.

We hiked about 17 miles from Beaver Brook Trailhead to The Basin (near Liberty Springs Trailhead). According to my watch, we did over 5600′ of elevation gain.

We did it in one shot. We started around 7am and finished around 7pm. Just carried the food, water, and snacks for the day.

My mom drives the RV from trailhead to trailhead. After doing this I realize how lucky my dad is to have my mom do that for him and allow him to take a shower each night, cook dinner, and spend the night in their nice RV bed.

Hikers who start late follow a famous example. In 1955, Emma “Grandma” Gatewood became the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail alone, at 67, in canvas sneakers, with a homemade denim bag and a shower curtain to keep the rain off. She went on to hike it three times.

Her company is still small: according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, only about 50 people age 70 and above have completed thru-hikes of the trail, which is more than 2,190 miles long.

“PREACHERS ROCK — I had the chance to take my 69-year-old dad on his first hike on the Appalachian Trail. We only did a small section that day from Woody Gap to Miller Gap and back. Now, he wants to do bigger miles and sections in Georgia.”

These experiences with my dad have been awesome times together. You are forced to spend hours together talking along the trail until you reach your destination. A lot of great conversations come out along the way.

But he is in pretty good shape. His biggest complaint is how quickly you can stub your toe on the trail.

I hiked nearby 76-year-old birthday girl all through Shenandoah and she made the miles. She started early, arrived just at dark most days, and was quite the fan of hostels.

“My dad retired a few years ago and turns 70 this Thursday. He spends most of his time on the Appalachian Trail now in full bearded hobo glory.”

We threw my dad a party! I tried to make it Appalachian Trail Place-Name themed.

My dad had a goal to thru hike in 2020 (pandemic cancelled that), and attempted in 2022. he ended up doing some long sections, finally finishing this year. I was grateful to be able to hike a section with him in 2023.

I was the cake piper! I screwed up and left Baxter peak and its altitude off, but I am still happy with how it turned out.

My father has walking the Appalachian Trail on his bucket list. We are planning on a trip to Charlottesville, Virginia, in a couple of weeks from Reston, Virginia. He walks a mile every day with some elevation change.

Dad has been diligent, regularly exercising, for about the last 20 years. He has two grandkids and four great-grandchildren (6, 5, 4, and 1).

We made it! ✅